What should I ask my recruiter?

2019-06-29T13:15:48-04:00

I recently turned 17 and want to join to the reserves. My plan is join reserves now so next year when I go to college I'd have access to gi bill and tuition assistance and in college do ROTC. I am meeting with my recruiter next week (possibly for the last time before I sign) and was wondering what questions I should ask him. If you could leave some questions or anything I should know it would be appreciated.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2019 1:19 PM

2019-06-29T13:19:33-04:00

If you join the reserves and then commission through ROTC, they may not allow you to commission active duty. I would ask about that. Have you thought about just applying for rotc and trying to get scholarship through rotc? They will pay all tuition, books, and monthly stipend if you get it

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2019 1:34 PM

2019-06-29T13:34:46-04:00

Just so you know tuition assistance only covers 16 hours of classes per fiscal year. The normal school year is 32 hours a year

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 29 at 2019 1:56 PM

2019-06-29T13:56:34-04:00

I would get an ASVAB study guide if they are available. A word of warning. I scored high enough for every MOS in the army, but my recruiter said tank mechanic and infantry were only available at the time. I said bullshit and they gave me 17 MOSs available. It would behoove of you to come back here to tell us what has transpired before signing.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jun 29 at 2019 3:25 PM

2019-06-29T15:25:06-04:00

Which branch are you looking into? What job are you looking to get? The Army doesn’t have Combat jobs in the Reserves only support jobs. The Army Guard has Combat jobs. The Air Force Reserves have almost every job as the active duty side. I am not sure what jobs are available for the Navy and Marine Reserves.

First of all, if you go Reserves, you need to find out where exactly your Reserve unit is located. Is it close to your home or 3 hours away? When I left active duty and joined the Reserves, I was promised by the recruiter that my unit was an hour from my home. Turns out it was 3 hours away.

I would also ask how many times had your potential unit deployed in last 10 years? That might give you a idea of future deployments. The military is very Dependent on its reserve forces. The chances of being deployed (thus interrupting your school work) is much higher than it used to be before 9/11.

If you have the opportunity, I would go ROTC. Being an officer is always better than being enlisted. Plus the military will pay for 100% of your education up front.

Also, have a career field in mind before you see the recruiter. Do your homework. There is plenty of information available online about different military careers. Also, know that each month recruiters are given a list of jobs that need to be filled that month. They will always steer you towards those jobs first even if you are not a good fit.

Look into more than one branch of the military. Each has unique things to offer you. I was active duty Army, then Air Guard, and now the Air Force Reserves. Each service has its pluses and minuses. I also wouldn’t discount the Guard. Both the Army and Air Force have Guard unit’s. I enjoyed my time in the Air Guard. Over half of my unit was prior active duty Army soldiers and Marines. We found the Air Force lifestyle much better than our previous branches.

Good luck!

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Jun 29 at 2019 3:49 PM

2019-06-29T15:49:35-04:00

First, GI Bill requires 36 months of active duty (training time is NOT counted).

Second, Since you want to do both college ROTC and reserves, you need to talk to two different recruiters. One should be the college ROTC unit's recruiting officer to understand how to align school with future commission. Other should be enlisted recruiter for reserve duty.

There are many Army SMP (simultaneous membership program) cadets, but they have to balance two different worlds. If you pursue this path, there is some leeway (i.e. non-deployable as SMP, can count ROTC FTX for weekend drill, etc.) but it still requires multi-tasking.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jun 29 at 2019 7:53 PM

2019-06-29T19:53:49-04:00

If you have an idea of where you would like to go to school, I'd meet with the financial assistance office to talk about the tuition assistance programs you are considering. I know it seems your recruiter should know more about the Armed Forces programs, but the fact is, his or her emphasis is getting bodies to sign on the bottom line. The school finance office works to identify all sources an individual is eligible to draw money from to attend school and have probably worked with others in similiar circumstances.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jun 29 at 2019 8:19 PM

2019-06-29T20:19:16-04:00

Before joining the reserves, check out the national guard. Similar commitments but better education incentives. For example, states offer tuition assistance in addition to federal to guard soldiers.

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Jun 29 at 2019 11:04 PM

2019-06-29T23:04:56-04:00

Consider the National Guard instead of Reserves. Many states have additional tuition etc incentives for members of the National Guard. Here in Utah tuition and fees are free at State schools for members of the Guard Utah also has their own GI Bill for Guard members that is in addition to the Federal GI Bill

Response by COL David Turk made Jun 30 at 2019 9:33 AM

2019-06-30T09:33:40-04:00

I would find another recruiter and ask the same “deal or no deal” questions, to see if you get the same answers. Yes, I’m probably pissing off some former and current recruiters on here, but speaking from personal experience, it pays to do so. Then again, my experience was from the early ‘70’s.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jun 30 at 2019 11:32 AM

2019-06-30T11:32:15-04:00

The first question you need to answer for yourself is what component do you want to commission in. If active duty is your desired end state, then I would wait until all the National ROTC scholarship boards have made their selections. If you enlist first and then receive a scholarship offer, the USAR would have to release you to take that scholarship. I have one cadet in my program that did that and we are still waiting for the conditional release form to come back so she can contract in the fall. I would ask your recruiter about how could you do ROTC and be in the Army Reserve at the same time. He/she should be well versed on the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) and how that works. Secondly, I would have him/her show you what MOS's you qualify for. If you do not do ROTC, you want to be in an MOS that you think will enjoy because that is what you will do for your USAR contract. Third, I would ask him/her about training dates and how that would impact enrolling in college. It sounds like you may be doing the split option so you may be able to complete AIT in the summer before college. But doublecheck. Finally, get full clarification on all of your education benefits (Tuition assistance, select reserve GI bill, student loan repayment). Part of this is asking the recruiter what might happen to any benefits if you do ROTC (especially if you received a scholarship). Also, do not forget to talk with the ROTC program as well so they are tracking you as a prospect. I hope this helps.

Response by MSgt J D McKee made Jun 30 at 2019 11:32 AM

2019-06-30T11:32:32-04:00

Unless you know for sure the duty schedule of the job you will be in, for sure, ask that.

I re-joined after a break. Thought I knew it all. Got to the Fire Department Academy as a SSgt (e5) with one day TIG because of 6 years prior and same rank. Lost 2 years TIG.

I guess I was so stupid I thought everyone worked normal hours. But no, the FD in the AF sleeps at the station 24 on, 24 off, and what they call a Kelly day making a 3 day break every so often. I found this out when I got to the Fire Department Academy.

Well, that sucked. It was a fearsomely shit schedule for me at the time.

Especially since the assholes running it were either single or didn't care about any life outside the station, since it was military, they just kept us up all night a lot of nights running needless drills, and doing really important shit like washing a couple acres of fire truck because of a mud splash one had to look really hard to see.

Does this sound peevish? Maybe. It's anger that has had many years to mature into a fine, thin determination to never put myself in a place where I have to follow someones' whim ever again. Being pretty successful so far.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jun 30 at 2019 11:44 AM

2019-06-30T11:44:51-04:00

Everything. Not being smart or a dick here.
That recruiter is your initial POC into the military. They are there to answer or get answers to any and all questions you have no matter how mundane or off the wall they might seem. They are there to literally verbally walk you through the process so you feel at ease as possible.

If you have not taken the ASVAB you will want to ask about that. If you have taken it and tested poorly, ask about retest options etc and availability. You want to know about what jobs you qualify for and not just what they are pushing due to military need. You want to ask about signing bonuses and inventive packages for certain MOS's and qualifiers.

Determine what you are looking for and want before you go in, not after. DIfferent MOS will have basic or OSUT in different locations and length times. Ask about your dependents if any and their possible accompaniment during AIT or phase 4 of OSUT. Ask about pay and benefits and what applies and does not as far as your civilian schooling and what rank you will enter as.

Look at your options such as commissioning versus enlisted. Look at getting locked in contract options such as Airborne, Ranger etc that are locked into your contract.

Response by COL Victor Hagan made Jul 1 at 2019 9:33 PM

2019-07-01T21:33:39-04:00

I would recommend that you contact a National Guard Recruiter. Most state pay instate tutition for members of the national guard. Consider selecting a MOS in the CF that you might be interesting in excepting a commission.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2019 10:09 AM

2019-07-03T10:09:00-04:00

First and foremost I applaud your efforts in reaching out for answers, as well as considering raising your right hand. That said, The first thing you need to do is take a hard look at at the questions you should ask YOU...WHY you are joining...if the first part of that answer is not something like "Because I want to be a part of something bigger than me while improving myself in service to more than me" then I would postpone the recruiter meeting and do some deep introspection. 29 years experience solidly showed me the axiom "You are your best career manager" to be true, but it also proved conclusively that "What's in it for me?" rarely ends well in any of the services. The benefits are not an entitlement- they are the manifestation of the appreciation of the American people for your sacrifice for their collective good.
Once you answer that question remember this in dealing with your recruiter:
1) If you go in without educating yourself you will get what you deserve
2) You hold all the cards because you have the power of "No" and the ability to walk away, so if you cave to any pressure then aim all blame at the mirror
3) This is a business negotiation (and the recruiter is better at it than you)- it's not personal. You have a goal in mind. Your recruiter has a goal in mind. Compromise is part of the process but unacceptable compromise by either should not be. It's OK to walk away, because nobody wins if either of you loses (wrong person in the slot). (If a recruiter screws an applicant he gets 1 fill, but also gets a poisoned well when that fill calls all his buddies back home).
4) Lumping all recruiters into one standard is like lumping everything with 4 wheels into the word "Car", so use your instinct and pay attention to everything, not just the words but body language, environment, "Other". If your inner voice is screaming "Something don't smell right" then F-ing listen to it!! Don't force a bad tactical position; trading space for time is fine, so if you're uncomfortable, even without knowing exactly why, walk away, think it over, do more research and then go back....rinse, lather, repeat until you get to where you both need to be.
5) RATIONALIZING will kill you...it's like buying a car: You go in wanting a red Ram 4x4, dealer doesn't have one but says they do have a really sweet red Ford 2WD on sale...does the fact that it's red and a truck really get at the solution? Only you can know.

Lastly have you looked at scholarships? You mentioned college and ROTC so you are looking at the officer path...the Army has a 3 year option which is a really good thing (it's what I did). Army 4 year scholarships are harder to get than a West Point slot, but 3 years are abundant! You go in paying your own way the first year, but most programs have detachments at the local community colleges so you get to try it out pretty cheap, without commitment, while having the opportunity to prove yourself to the Corps of Cadets (them trying you out).
Good luck - I'd like to know how this turns out and feel free to ask as many questions as you wish.

Response by Devansh Chaurasiya made Jul 5 at 2019 2:40 AM

2019-07-05T02:40:23-04:00

dont forget to ask how many leaves u have

Response by Capt Gene Leone made Jul 8 at 2019 1:05 AM

2019-07-08T01:05:58-04:00

Whatever he/she tells you , get it in writing!